The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-06
Messrs. Morgan and Morrill, represent the
Senate on this committee.
In the House.

witness tine opening scenes of the new Con-
gress. Ladies were in majority, and their
gay costumes lent an air of animation to
the chamber On the floor members con-
gregated and exchanged greetings and con-
gratulations. There were very few floral
decorations upon the desks of the members,
though T. J. Campbell of New York, was
favored with horse shoe of carnations and
roses, the gift of the Oriental Club, of New
York. AT noon the Clerk of the House
called the body to order, and was about to
call the roll when a crank in the
gallery started a Salvation Army
hymn which he sang Justify until elected by
doorkeeper, which was not until several
minutes had elapsed, as the crowd impeded
the official in his attempt to reach the
singer The clerk then proceeded with the
roll call, amid a good deal of confusion,
caused by the gentlemen renewing old ac-
quaintances, or forming new ones, amid
much talk and laughter. The pages
were kept busy carrying belated
bouquets and floral designs to the proper re-
cipients. Among the handsOmest of the de-
signs was one presented to Mr.. Lawler, OF
Illinois, 1t was a tablet of roses, on which
boris Champion.
Mr.. Randall's desk was embellished with
harp, and that of Mr.. Stahlnecker, of
New York, was adorned with tall floral
vase.
On the call of the roll, 3l3 members an
swered TO their names and the Clerk an
nounced that more than quorum being
present the next business in order was the
election of a Speaker. John G. Carlisle was
put in nomination by Mr.. Cox, of New
York, and Thomas B. Reed by Mr.. Cannon,
of Illinois.
MR.. CARLISLE ELECTED SPEAKER,
4lo of4 Io TtIa,.l Macsre
dali, Mills, ong and Mckinley took their
places at the Clerks desk to act as tally
keepers and the roll was again called. The
vote resulted as follows:
Total number of votes cast st..................313
For Carlisle ..--....-............... l63
For Reed d......................... .14S
For Brumm, of Pennsylvania ................ 2
OF the four Independents, Mr.. Anderson,
of Iowa, voted for Mr.. Carlisle, and Messrs.
Nichols, of North Carolina, and Smith, of
Wisconsin, for Mr.. Brumm, while Mr.. Hop
kins, of Virginia, did not vote. The Clerk
thereupon declared Mr.. Carlisle duly elected
Speaker, and that gentleman was escorted
to the Speakers desk by Messrs. Cox and
Reed, amidst loud applause. The
oath of office, having been administered
by Mr. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, the
Speaker raped the House to order.
MR.. CARIIsLE's SPEECH.
On taking the chair Mr.. Carlisle said:
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TTvEs: In assuming for the third time the duties
of the laborious and responsible office for which
you have just chosen me desire to tender my
grateful thanks for the distinguished favor con
ferred, and to assure you that it will be my con-
stant endeavor to justify the confidence reposed
in me by fair and impartial administration of
the law governing your proceedings. No length
of service in this trying position can ever enable
the incumbent to begin the labors of a new
term without an oppressive feeling of embar-
raSSlnent and apprehension. In fact, experience
in this place increases rather than dim
inishes the sense of personal official response
bility; and ! can, therefore, say without
affectation that on no previous occasion have
undertaken the discharge of my duties here
with less confidence in my own capacity to dis
charge them well, or with so strong feeling of
dependence on the support of others None of
us can hope to satisfy the just expectations of
our respective constituents or to discharge the
full measure OF our responsibility to the public
at large unless we enter on the important and
difficult work before us with a determination
to cultivate a spirit of forbearance and con-
ciliation and to assist each other at all times
in the maintenance of order and decorum
in our proceedings. In his efforts to promote
prompt and regular transaction of the public
business, the presiding officer of body like this,
Is almost entirely dependent upon the co-opera-
tion of the gentlemen on the floor, and it is very
great announcement to me to know from past
experience that he can always rely upon your
active support when he is right and ON your
kind indulgence even when he is wrong shall
doubtless have frequent occasion to invoke your
indulgence, but l trust you will never
have Just cause to complain that it has
been abused. There has scarcely ever been a
time in our history when the continued pros
peIity of the country depended so largely upon
legislation in Congress as now, for the reason
that the dangers which at this time threaten
the commercial and industrial interests of the
people are the direct results of laws which
Congress alone can modify or repeal Neither
tI,a iva f,1n ant nf he ay.af
government nor the local authorities of the
several States can deal effectively with the
situation which now confronts us. Whatever is
done must be done here, and II nothing is done
the responsibility must rest here. 1t must be
evident to everyone who has taken even q par
tial survey of public affairs, that the time has
now come when revision of our revenue laws
and reduction OF taxation are absolutely nee
essary, in order to prevent a large and danger
ous accumulation of money in the Treasury.
Whether this ought, or ought not, to have been
useless now TO discuss 1t is sufficient for us to
know that the financial condition
of the government and the private business of
the people alike demand prompt consideration
of these subjects and the speedy enactment of
some substantial measure Of relief. Unfortu-
pately we are menaced by dangers from OPP
posite directions. While policy of non-action
must inevitably result sooner or later in serious
injury to the country. we cannot be unmindful
of the fact that hasty and 1nconsiderate legisla-
tion on subjects more or less affecting large
financial and industrial interests might produce,
temporarily at least, disturbances and embar-
rassInents which more prudent coursewould en-
tirely avoid The investments made and the labor
employed in the numerous and valuable indus
tries which have grown up under our present
system of taxation ought not to be rudely dis
tilrbed by sudden and radical changes in the
policy to which they have adjusted themselves;
but the Just demands Of an overtaxed people
and the obvious requirements of the financial
situation cannot be entirely ignored without
seriously imperiling much greater and more
widely extended interests than any other that
could possibly be injuriously affected
by moderate and reasonable
reduction of duties. No part Of our people
are more Immediately or vitaly interested in a
continuance of financial prosperity than those
who labor for wages Upon them and their
families must always fall the most disastrous
consequences OF the monetary crisis; and they,
too are always the last to realize the benefit of
return to prosperous times. Their wages are
always the first to fall when crisis comes, and
the last to rise when it passes away. Our eff
fort should be to afford necessary relief to all
without injury to the interests of any, and
therefore that course of legislation
should be pursued which will guarantee
the laboring people of the country against the
paralyzing effects of general and prolonged
financial depression, and at the same time not
interfere with their steady employment, or de-
prive them of any part of the just rewards of
their toll. IL this can be done, and belieye 1t
can, II our deliberations are conducted with the
wisdom and patriotism which the gravity Of the
situation demands, this Congress win have
which promises peace and prosperity TO the
country for many years to come. These
remarks may be considered somewhat out
of the usual course and perhaps not entirely